The Eagle Butte Learning Center (EBLC) is a regionally-based, culturally relevant education ministry designed to enhance leadership skills among clergy and lay leaders of American Indian UCC congregations. One-to-one Mentoring Program is available with training for mentors and mentees.

Seeking to be faithful to the ideals of the United Church of Christ as a multi-racial, multicultural, open and affirming, accessible-to-all, just peace church, EBLC uses a diverse volunteer faculty for retreats and workshops. The focus group is American Indians, however, EBLC welcomes all to participate in cross-cultural dialogue and witness.

Partnerships and funding sources include conferences, associations, local churches, ecumenical partners and individuals.

EBLC is located on ten acres of land assigned by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) within the hub for tribal government, a regional Indian Health Service hospital, Bureau of Indian Affairs offices, HV Johnston Lakota Cultural Center and many others.

Teen Suicide was the topic of a recent retreat at the Eagle Butte Learning Center. Dr. Adrian McCombs Maxey, a member of Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the United Church of Christ, is a clinical psychologist who led the retreat.

Louie Bluecoat, Chris Kraft, and Norman Bluecoat participate in class discussion and share their experiences. Some pastors have ofﬁciated as many as eight teen suicides in one year.

Worship, music, Bible Study and good food were included as intergenerational families joined in the retreat.

Ways to help in suicide prevention: listen attentively, communicate effectively, and create a sense of belonging in the home, community and church.

Mike Kills Pretty Enemy presents a beaded bolo tie to Adrian as he gives thanks for his leadership.

The Eagle Butte Learning Center gives thanks to the Council for American Indian Ministry, the Neighbors in Need grant committee, Christ Congregation of Princeton, NJ, the Jeff Roth Memorial Fund of Penn Central, and others who volunteered their time and talent.